Hug-a-porn-star draws crowds to HK comic fair

Apart from the cartoon characters, one of the big draws was the chance for visitors to embrace former Japanese porn star Maria Ozawa. -- PHOTO: THREE DOTS ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY

HONG KONG - A JAPANESE porn star's hugging contest, as well as covetable limited edition action figures, is drawing record crowds of manga-crazed youngsters to Hong Kong's annual comic fair.

Maria Ozawa

Hundreds of excited teens camped out for days so they could be among the first inside the venue, turning elevated walkways leading into the city's convention centre into makeshift homes.

'We are expecting a record-number crowd this year - higher than ever before,' a spokesman told AFP as the event opened on Friday. Last year's event drew a staggering 680,000 people.

Some of those streaming inside were dressed as their favourite characters from anime - the term for Japan's distinctive animation used in television series, films and video games.

Hong Kong is home to many fans of Japanese anime and manga - or comics - and related action figures are among the most sought-after offerings at the fair.

But apart from the cartoon characters, one of the big draws was the chance for visitors to embrace former Japanese porn star Maria Ozawa. Extra security was reportedly drafted in to maintain order as Ozawa offered hugs to the first 40 people to enter the five-day fair. -- AFP